Mavis Gallants Bernadette :: essays research papers

Mavis Gallant's Bernadette Fear, it has a way of controlling everything that it comes in contact with. As young children we are introduced to this intimidating desire with intrigue and suspicion. As we age, the thoughts of fears become more like realities, ideas of loneliness and death enter the picture as comprehensible thoughts and views of the future. These issues make up the foundation of the Mavis Gallant story "Bernadette". In this story we are presented with the image of a young French Canadian girl, who finds herself pregnant and without a husband. The context of the story explores the relationships between the members of the household in a fear associated manner. The relationship between the Knights and Bernadette is the base of the story. These three people relate to each other in an intimidating fashion and this is what makes Bernadette's predicament so difficult to overcome. As well, the family ties between Nora and Robbie are explored. Their family relationship is one based on dependence, and without this one factor the connection between the two results in fearfulness of being alone. Fear has a way of attacking our judgment and this is what makes associations between people an apprehensive and hard act. The story is set in Quebec during the 1940-1950, when what you were was the definition of who you were. As the story opens we are presented with the main character Bernadette, who is concluding that she is one hundred and twenty-six days pregnant. At this time in history it was quit common for young rural girls to bare children at a young age. However, Bernadette is a single French Canadian girl who is working and living in a urban community, where things like that do not take place. We are here introduced to the first fear presented in the story: --How will Bernadette tell the Knights that she is pregnant? -- The answer to the question is what haunts her, and the reaction of the Knights is the anxiety that builds up inside of her. These intimidating fears places Bernadette in a compromising situation, she is in a position of abandonment by her family and the shame she thinks she has brought on to the Knights. These fears have forced her to react in an unusual fashion. Bernadette is so fearful of what they might think that she tries to hide herself in her work so that she is not placed in the position where she will have to interact with the Knights. The fear of failure and disappointment took control over her mind. When around the Knights she worked as a robot in order not to arouse ideas of

Obesity and Gastric Bypass Surgery Essay

In this paper I will discuss an article from the Seattle Press written by Associated Press Medical Writer Lindsay Tanner. I will discuss the statistical procedures used in the study and provide an analysis of the conclusions both the researchers and the reporter drew from the study results to consider the statistical significance of the data presented. The article explains the research of Dr. Sayeed Ikramuddin of the department of surgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis and his colleagues relating to bariatric surgery its potential role in glycemic control in type two diabetics. Irkamuddin states that at 12 months, â€Å"the primary goal was considered successful if patients achieved the composite of the triple endpoint: HbA1c of less than 7. 0%, an LDL cholesterol level of less than 100 mg/dL, and systolic blood pressure of less than 130 mmHg at the 12-month visit† (2013, p. 2242). The study was conducted at four sites, including New York, Minnesota, and two hospitals in Taiwan and lasted 12 months. Patients with mild to moderate obesity and adult-onset diabetes mellitus were offered a free intensive intervention and recruited using mass media advertisements, practice-based databases and contact with professional groups, leading to an unblinded randomized group after screening 2648 candidates. Body mass index in participants ranged from 30. 0 to 39. 9, with a mean of 34. 6. The study participants had been diagnosed with diabetes for a mean of 9. 0 years. The intensive intervention included lifestyle modification with daily caloric intake counts, increased physical activity, daily weights and counseling sessions, and intensive medical management including close monitoring and treatment from doctors with medications for cholesterol, blood pressure, and glycemic control. Sixty of these participants were randomly selected to receive Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. Two of the participants selected declined to have the surgery, and two others were randomly selected to undergo the procedure. These patients continued to receive the same intensive intervention during the entire 12 months. The frequency of sessions and monitoring decreased for both groups during the study period as planned, going from weekly to monthly over the course of the study. The author of the newspaper article summarizes the study’s results by stating, â€Å"The surgery group lost on average nearly 60 pounds and 75% lowered blood glucose levels to normal or near-normal levels. The non-surgery group lost on average 17 pounds and just 30% reached the blood-sugar goal. The surgery group also needed less medication after the operation† (Tanner, 2013, p. 2). The last portion of this statement is misleading as the study evaluates and considers only medications to manage blood glucose levels, dyslipidemia, and hypertension (Ikramuddin, 2013, p. 2245). The study reports, â€Å"Patients who underwent gastric bypass surgery experienced 50% more serious and 55% more nonserious adverse events than did those in the lifestyle-medical management group† (Ikramuddin et al. , 2013, p. 2248). It is important to consider the frequency and rate of adverse events, in addition to classification of such data. Researchers also state that the surgical group took 66% fewer medications than the nonsurgical group. The most common adverse event in the surgical group that was not considered peri- or late post-operative was nutritional deficiencies, especially iron and vitamin B levels, requiring treatment with medications and supplements. Nutritional deficiencies are often long-term and require frequent monitoring and dose adjustment. Because of the time limitations of the study and the relatively small sample size, long-term cardiovascular and nutritional effects of bariatric surgery in the mild to moderately obese population for glycemic control remains to be determined. Both the study and the newspaper article assert that there is no conclusive evidence on long-term effects when bariatric surgery is used in conjunction with lifestyle and medical management for glycemic control on mild to moderately obese patients. Other serious adverse events documented and considered by the authors of the study included motor vehicle accidents and pancreatic cancer, both of which occurred in the medical management group, decreasing the difference between the medical management group and the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass group. Pregnancy was considered as well. The total number of serious adverse events was 15 for the medical management group and 22 for the surgical group. The study does not discuss or measure in any way the adherence of participants to the intensive intervention in either group. Patients’ adherence to recommended regimen including decreased caloric intake, recommended physical activity, and medication compliance is a variable that was not assessed by Ikramuddin and his colleagues during the study, limiting its scope. In general, the newspaper article correctly interprets the statistics and draws conclusions from this study appropriately. The surgical group tended to have less hypertension and elevated LDL cholesterol levels, but this data lacks statistical significance. Tanner stated in the newspaper article â€Å"those between-group differences could have been due to chance† (2013, p. ). The study states a confidence interval of 95%, which correlates with a 0. 05 significance level. Many of the values representing these measures were marginally different. Many other studies have reported effects on these values as individual variables. There are many other factors involved in cholesterol and blood pressure management that must be identified an d considered before drawing conclusions on such data. This study was very detailed and presented a large amount of data. Despite this, the overall conclusions of the newspaper article were accurate in relation to the data. The newspaper article summarized the conclusions of the researchers appropriately. The statistics representing HbA1c as part of the composite endpoint are reliant on weight loss and can be primarily attributed to this factor (Ikramuddin et al. , 2013, p. 2240). The newspaper article states, â€Å"The researchers say the diabetes changes were likely due to the weight loss but that hormonal changes affecting blood sugar may have contributed† (Tanner, 2013, p 2). This was determined by using regressive analyses of the available data. The study suggests that altered gastrointestinal hormone secretion as well as differences in individual medication use during the study may have attributed to the results, but acknowledges that the study lacks the data to determine this. By going to the source of news-reported statistical studies, the reader can evaluate the statistical significance of the data and determine if the data were presented accurately and if the conclusions drawn are reliable. Research and comprehension of data and statistical significance is essential to best evidence-based practice in the field of nursing and beyond.

The Debate Over Stricter Gun Control - 929 Words

Gun Control in the United States The debate over stricter gun laws has been ongoing in the United States for quite some time now. Individuals who oppose stricter gun control laws argue that the second amendment to the constitution of the United States constitute part of the bill of rights that protect the right for American citizens to bear arms, and any attempt to set up laws for gun control will be a direct violation on this (Hofstadter 10). They argue that the primary purpose of the amendment was to ensure that American Citizens had the capability to protect themselves against criminal activities and defend the country against external aggression. From a personal perspective, the recent surge in instances of gun violence in the United States of America indicates that stricter gun control laws are necessary for the safety of the American citizenry. Thus, this paper is going to focus on highlighting the benefits of more stringent gun control laws and why members of the public sho uld support it. To better comprehend its advantages an individual should understand that the concept of stricter gun control refers to policies and laws that are designed to help regulate the manufacture, sale, possession, transfer, modification or use of firearms (Braga and David 14). Through the institution of this laws governments/Law enforcement agencies will be able to control and reduce incidences of gun related violence within the U.S TheShow MoreRelatedThe Debate Over Stricter Gun Control Laws924 Words   |  4 PagesThe debate over stricter gun laws has been ongoing in the United States for quite some time now. Individuals who oppose stricter gun control laws argue that the second amendment to the constitution of the United States constitute part of the bill of rights that protect the right of American citizens to bear arms, and any attempt to set up laws for gun control will be a direct violation of this (Hofstadter 10). They argue that the primary purpose of the amendme nt was to ensure that American CitizensRead MoreThe Pros And Cons Of Gun Control875 Words   |  4 Pagesissue of gun control laws has become a prevalent topic of debate throughout American society. This debate stems from two opposing arguments over gun control. Some feel gun control laws are fair and not the contributing factor to these mass shootings, whereas, others feel that there is an urgent need for strict laws in order to end the problem of mass shootings. There are numerous pros and cons to the enforcement of stricter gun control laws but we must note a few things: stricter gun control laws wouldRead MoreGun Control Essay973 Words   |  4 PagesA debate that has lasted since the beginning of the United States is the debate over guns. What started off as a debate over who should have guns in colonial times, ended up a debate over whether the government should impose stricter laws or leave gun rights alone. There are numerous reasons to have stricter laws, such as the prot ection of society, but there are still people who oppose strict gun laws. First, let me give a brief history of this public concern. The issue of gun control has beenRead MoreThe Modern Debate Concerning Gun Control1490 Words   |  6 PagesThe modern debate concerning gun control became a popular subject after a number of high profile assassinations that occurred in the 60s. Even more gun violence in the 1980’s and 90’s also brought up more debate, proving the desperate need for stricter gun laws in the United States. In 1999, there was a massacre at Columbine High School. This catastrophic school shooting made congress reconsider passing stronger gun control laws by making them realize how easy it was to get a hold of firearms. OneRead MoreGun Control1724 Words   |  7 PagesEnglish 1302 5th march 2013 Sides of Crime Control Gun control laws have been surrounded by controversy since The Bill of Rights, including the Second amendment was passed in the congress. A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed, the founders wrote. Until recently there was considerable argument over just what the founders intended by their words. Did they mean to provide only for armedRead MoreThe Debate Over Gun Rights984 Words   |  4 Pagesstrengthen gun laws had been in place, many mass shootings, such as the one in Aurora Colorado, could have been prevented. The United States needs to implement stricter gun laws. The controversial debate over gun rights is as old as the history of the United States. It is time for lawmakers to create and enforce stronger restrictions on guns. There have been too many high profile/ mass shootings in the recent years for people to continue ignoring the problem of people’s easy access to guns. With a richRead MoreGuns, Ammunition And Its Negative Effects On Society944 Words   |  4 PagesIssue Question: can the availability of guns, ammunition and its negative effects on society be a thing of the past? Claim: An analysis of the United State gun culture reveals their negative effects on society. Thesis paragraph: In the wake of recent killings and mass shooting in sandy hook and other locations across the country and communities, there has been public cries for the need for stricter gun laws and regulations. Gun violence has become a major problem facing the country. Day inRead MoreAnnotated Bibliography On The Gun Of The Teeth : The Worldwide Plague Of Small Arms1597 Words   |  7 Pagesis one gun for every ten people on earth today. The people who supports gun control believe that if we are trying to save the world, guns for wars should not be shipped around for individual uses. There have been around 400 million deaths due to small arms and conflicts since the fall of the Berlin Wall. Once a person owns a gun, it is very rare that they will be willing to give the gun up. In South Africa, guns have been melted down, blown up, and cut into pieces. If there were stricter gun controlRead MoreGun Control: Annotated Bibliography738 Words   |  3 Pages Frates, Chris. â€Å"The Gun Debate Isn’t Over Yet.† National Journal (2013): Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Web. 31 Oct. 2013. In this article written by Chris Frates, the author talks about how democrats and republicans are going back, and forth on gun control laws. Both parties are finding it difficult to come to an agreement. While leaving republicans asking the question â€Å"How do you take away Americans 2nd Amendment?† It’s a tricky situation as republicans, and congress continue to tryRead MoreThe Issue Of Gun Control1058 Words   |  5 Pagesthe United States currently than that of gun control. Advocates on either side of the issue are quick to voraciously fight for what they believe, as well as to tear down anyone who sees the issue differently. But unlike other issues, it seems that gun control advocacy does not rest on a spectrum; either you are pro-gun control or you are against it, and anyone caught in the middle is likely to get flak from both sides. But why is the issue of gun control such a hot topic? And why is it that there